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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Devotional work on the Divine Mother

 

CHENNAI, JULY 28. The resilience of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) is

due to the blending of its philosophy and religion to make it a

way of life. Philosophers like Adi Sankara have not only

extensively commented on the scriptural texts and written

original works to propound the philosophical systems they

advocated but also composed devotional hymns to fulfil the

practical aspect of spiritual endeavour - liberation from

bondage. This is not possible without devotion because spiritual

knowledge is not mere abstract speculation but the experience of

the Self (Atman) when the mind dwells totally on God. So

knowledge and devotion go hand in hand and cannot be divorced in

spiritual life. Adi Sankara has composed hymns on many deities in

keeping with the spirit of his systematisation of worship of the

six principal deities - Vishnu, Siva, Sakti, Surya, Ganapati and

Kumara. His Saundarya Lahari on the Divine Mother (Sakti) has

been hailed as the crest jewel of devotional poetry among his

hymns. Its literary merit apart, this hymn's distinction is its

exposition of the Srividya worship in which the Divine Mother is

revered as the Supreme One. It has also been hailed as the sequel

to the Lalita Sahasranama as the theme of both the works is the

same. In devotion, where the Almighty's compassion for the

devotee is key to redemption, this hymn gains significance, since

the Divine Mother is held to be the very embodiment of

compassion.

 

In his discourse, Sri Abhirama Sundaram said the Saundarya Lahari

had to be interpreted esoterically to understand its import

though literally it describes the beauty of the Divine Mother

from Her head to Her toe. The hymn in 100 verses is divided into

three sections for purpose of interpretation. Sakti here is

portrayed as the embodiment of love and grace as the mother of

all beings. One of the verses of this hymn describes that the

entire creation proceeds from Her. Not only does She create this

universe, Sakti sustains it by Her grace and also is responsible

for its dissolution.

 

The Saundarya Lahari is not exclusively meant for the pursuit of

liberation only. Human beings have to be blessed with all the

four ends, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, to lead a balanced

life. Hence, Sankara with this in mind has composed Saundarya

Lahari with the specific purpose of realising all these four ends

so that a devotee can fulfil all his desires. The choice is also

apt in that it is the Divine Mother who is naturally disposed to

satisfy all Her devotee's wishes. So in spite of its esoteric

nature this hymn can be handled by anyone who has devotion.

 

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